Apparatus for venting tire casings



.y 17, 1951 H, H *CLARK ,561,612

APPARATUS FOR VENTING TIRE CASINGS INVENTOR. HAROLD H. CLARK ATTORNEY July 17,"1951 A H. H. CLARKv 2,561,012

APPARATUS FOR VENTING TIRE CASINGS Filed March 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

INVENTOR. HAROLD H. CLARK ATTORNEY July 17, 195i H. H1 CLARK 2,561,012

APPARATUS FOR VENTING TIRE CASINGS Filed March 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 53 g5 72 A ATTORNEY July 17 195 H. H. CLARK 2,561,012

APPARATUS FOR VENTING TIRE CASINGS Filed March 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY Patented July 17, 1'951 APPARATUS FOR VENTING TIRE CASINGS Harold H. Clark, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, assignor to Wingfoot Corporation, Akron,

poration of Delaware Ohio, a cor- Application March 26, 1949, Serial No. 83,734

20 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the manufacture of automobile tires and the like and particularly to an apparatus for venting the sidewalls of a iinished pneumatic tire casing to permit the escape of air that becomes trapped between the inner walls of a tire carcass and the inner tube and rim surfaces when mounted on a wheel or rim and inflated.

The air trapped between the inner surface of the tire casing and the surfaces of the tube and rim is under pressure approximately equal to the inflating pressure of the mounted tire, and if permitted to remain may cause serious damage to the tire casing in the form of tread and ply separations. Tire casings are usually composed of several plies of rubberized cord fabric. The inner surface of the carcass presents a corduroylike surface. The trapped air flows through the grooves and may penetrate through one or more plies, forming an air blister which grows to such proportions that premature wear and destruction is the result when trapped air is permitted to remain therein.

Previously this venting has been done by hand. The operators stand beside a conveyor and as the tires pass they are pierced with awls in the hands of the operators. The hand piercing is laborious and tiresome to the operators arms, especially the wrists, and also requires a substantial number of operators to pierce the large volume of tires as they pass by on the conveyors.

It has been found advantageous to pierce the tires at three equally spaced points on each side about the circumference of the tire casings adjacent the bead portions. The venting by the present invention is accomplished by power driven awls of small diameter without affecting normal wear of tires. The vent-forming awls remove no material from the tire casings. When the awls are withdrawn the walls of the vents retract, permitting trapped air under pressure to escape from within the casing but will prevent air moisture or other matter vfrom entering therein.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that will automatically pierce the tires to provide vents therein positively and accurately, with a saving in time and labor and at less cost.

Another object is to provide an apparatus that will operate in conjunction with a conventional feeding conveyor to form vents in one side of the tires, turn the tire over, deliver said tires to a second unit which will form vents in the opposite side of the tires, then release the tires to a second take-away conveyor, all of which is performed automatically with eiciency and dispatch without interrupting the regular scheduled flow of tires.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects will become apparent as the description proceeds, and are achieved by providing an apparatus comprising a pair of units of similar construction and operation connected by an inclined conveyor unit to carry tires from the first unit to the second unit. The first unit comprises means for receiving and positioning a tire, fluid pressure means for actuating a plurality of arms to center and hold a tire, awls associated therewith to pierce the under side of a tire and means associated with the said first unit to turn or reverse a tire upside down onto an inclined conveyor unit to be delivered to said second unit where the tire is centered, held and pierced in the opposite side, then released to a take-away conveyor.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan View of one of the vent piercing units;

Figure 4 is a view partly in section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view showing the holding and piercing means in operative position;

Figure 6 is a similar View showing the gripping arms and piercing means retracted, and the actuating means with fluid pressure connections;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 5 showing the switch contact cam bars for actuating various switches;

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 6 showing the switches and cam bars for operating the awls;

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram oi the apparatus.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a pair of units, the first unit being designated generally by the numeral l and a second unit indicated generally by the numeral 2 and an intermediate unit generally indicated by the numeral 3.

The units indicated generally by numerals l and 2 are of identical construction except for detail of their discharge ends which will later be explained, otherwise like reference characters will indicate like parts in both of said units.

Each unit comprises a roller conveyor i supported on a frame 5. The roller conveyor is positioned at a slight incline which is an aid in the forward movementI of tires to the piercing mechanism which form the vents therein. Also, the conveyor is inclined to conform in height with the feed conveyor and to be in parallelism `with the carriage which carries the piercing and holding mechanism into and out of actuating position.

As illustrated in Figures 1-to4,A the roller con-` with free revolving rolls 6- atv veyor is provided the receiving and dischargev ends but 4theintermediate rollers 'i are belt driven. This is accomplished by providing auxiliary rollers 8 beneath the rollers 'i and interpolated therewith so the belts 9 at each side can be interwoven between the rollers i andy-K8 to drive rollers 'l so that tires may be moved to a central position over the awl venting mechanism. lThe return side oi the belts is guided by the-rollers it, said belts being driven by the pulleys Il mounted on a shaft i2 which is driven by a sprocket I3 and chain it connected to a sprocket I5 mounted on a speed reduction unit i6 which in turn is driven by the motor Il.

The 4roller conveyor of each unit is driven intermittently in the following manner (see Figures 2, 4 and 6). Wheny a tire has reached a position approximately centrally above the piercing unit, the tire contacts a swinging roller i3 which is normally held above the surface of the rollers i by a pair of arms I9 fixed to a pivoting shaft 2c. The roller i9 is held in its upward position by a counterweight attached to the opposite end of an arm-dil also fixed to the shaft 2d. When a tire contacts and depresses the roller i8, the arms i9 towhich the roller is attached swing in a downward arc which causes a projection 2i formed on arm 30 to contact an arm 22 extending from a switch 23 which opens a circuit to the motor Il to stop the conveyor. At the saine time a relay energized byv switch 23 closes a circuit which energizes a solenoidifi (see Fig. 6) which actuates a valve-25, permitting uid under pressure to flowl through the conduit 2t to the lower endof a fluid pressure cylinder 2i which is pivotally mounted on a bracket Z3 attached to cross member 29 of the frame 5. A piston rod 3ll extending from a double acting piston 32 Within the cylinder 2i eX- tends to and is pivotally attached to an arm 33 which is pivotally mounted on the-shaft i2,- At the free end or the arm 33 a bar 34 extends up-I wardly therefrom and having attached to its upper end a half round bar member which when pushed upward by the arm 33 actuated by the piston rod ti serves as astop to prevent succeed ing tires from displacing a tire being vented.

When the tire is in position and the stop raised, the sidewall of the tire is pierced to form vents adjacent the bead portion ofthe tire by the mechanism now to be described which is clearly illustrated' in Figures 3 and d. rIhe mechanism includes means by which the holding andpiercing mechanism is raised and lowered into and out of position and in parallelism' with the roller -conveyor it consists of a plate which is in the general form of a Y as `illus-v trated in dotted lines in Figure 3. rhe-plate-is supported'by a pair of angular .arms .3l hingedly inountedlon the `shait i2 and carries theholding and piercing elements Ainto .and outwof, position.

The carriage is raised and lowered by a fluid pressure cylinder 3d mounted on the frame 5. A piston rod 39 actuated by a double acting piston 4S within the cylinder 38 has attached to the upper end thereof a rack di which, when driven up and down by the piston rod 3S, drives a pinion gear i2 which is keyed to the shaft d3. IThe rack di isguided .in itstpl and-down `course by a hanged roller ril?, mounted` in a bracket t5 attached to the frame E. The shaft i3 is revolvably mounted in bearings it attached to the frame 5. Alsorkeyed to the shaft c3, crank arms Vi vextend to receiveV the upper ends of arms B which are pivoted thereto by pins The arms 58a extend downwardly from the cranks to the plate iand'are pivotally mounted in bearings Emounted on the plate t5, by pins 5I. The upper ends of the arms i3 are curved to provide clearance between the arms and the shaft F53 to permit the pivot point of the cranks il and the upper ends-of the `arms-mito, pass-.beyond the axis of the shaft .t3-which wiliperinit the crank arms-dito swing a suiicient distance toA raise the holding and piercing mechanism-into position.l

Normally theiiiuid pressure inthe cylinder 3d holds thel mechanism inits raised position. Should the pressure fail, damage to themechanisrn is prevented-by the'curved farms- 113 permitting the pivot points-of the armsand cranks ai? to swing beyond the axis of the shaft dii-to which the crank arms are keyed. This w-illprevent the crank arms swinging in the reverse arc and permit the armsli to Contact the shaft d3 which will prevent a suddeny drop of thevholdn ing andpiercing mechanism, preventing damage thereto. y

The tire centering, holding and piercingmechanisni and the means .for operating same are mounted onY theplate.A The mechanism is raised and lowered into and out ofoperating position through action of the cylinder 33 in cooperation with the rack il andv pinion gear ft2.

The cylinderv 38 is actuated `by a solenoid operatedt-way valve 52; (see Fig. 6). When the mechanism is to be raised, through the proper electrical circuit, a` solenoid,v 53 is energized which depresses .the valve-plunger tilt.. Thispermits fluid to enter the conduit 55 leading to the lower end ofthe cylinder 38 .and opens-the upper end to exhaust. To lower themechanism ythe solenoid Efis energized which reverses the valve 52 to permit fluid to pass through the conduit 5i to thevupper'endof the cylinder 3 8 and open the lower end to exhaust.

As best illustrated in Figures-4, 51and6, the

tire engaging and centering mechanisinwcomprise arms EdhaVing-Ormed at their outer :sides scored or knurledfsurfaces-.l forv the purposeof grippingtheinner beadv surface of a ti-refto centrally locate the tire andfto hold saine to. prevent slipping while being pierced. As an added safety featui'e, guards 58a are provided at the upper ends of the arms 58 to prevent possible damage to thetire and also to .prevent altire jam on the table conveyor :ishould the tire beimproperly held by the scored surfaoesoyof the arr-ns.

i Extending from' the lowerqendsiof the-arms 53 at right angle thereto, are arms GQ, the :ends of which are pivotally connectedy tovpedestals `iii by pivot pins t2, the pedestals being securely mounted on the v plate 36.

Extendingffrom thebackof,l the armst, lugs 532havepivotally attachedithereto links Sli by pivot pins Si?, The: links extend to. and are.

pivotally connected to a spider block 66 by pivot pins 61. The spider block 66 is attached to a piston rod 68 which is secured to a double acting piston 69 operating within a fluid pressure cylinder bolted to the carriage plate 36.

Fluid under pressurev is admitted to the lower end of the cylinder 19 through the action of a solenoid operated 4-way valve 1|. When the solenoid 12 is energized it depresses the valve plunger 13 which permits fluid under pressure to enter the lower end of the cylinder 10 through the conduit 14 and opens the upper end of the cylinder to exhaust. This actuates the piston 69, causing the piston rod 68 to raise the spider block 66. This actuates the links 64 which are pivotally connected to the spider block and the lugs 63 on the arms 58, through their toggle action, spread the arms to center and hold a tire Iwhile being pierced. The centering of the tire being accomplished during the spreading of the arms 58 which enter the inner circumferential opening of the tire in retracted position. The spreading of the arms moves the tires to a central position. 'I'he arms are retracted `and lowered when the solenoid 15 is energized, which depresses the plunger 13 of the valve 1| which admits fluid under pressure to the upper side of the cylinder 1U through the conduit 16 and opens the lower end to exhaust.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 7, the lower end of the piston rod 68 extends from the bottom of the cylinder 10 andhas attached thereto a bar 11 of rectangular cross section to which are attached switch contact bars 18, 19 and 80 Iwhich cooperate to trip the limit switches 8|, 82 and 83 mounted on brackets 84 attached to the bottom of the plate 36 to open and close various electric circuits as will later be described. The switch contact bars are provided with slots 85 so that they may be adjusted by manipulating L the screws 86 to move the switch contact bars along the bar 11 to predetermined positions to time the electrical circuit controlling the valve 1| so that the spread of the arms 58 may be controlled to hold tires of various bead diameters.

The piercing mechanism, as best illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, is carried into and out of operative position by the arms 58 and coordinated therewith to operate when the arms are fully expanded and engaging a tire.

The piercing or venting mechanism is composed of fluid pressure cylinders 81 mounted on the arms 58. Double acting pistons 88 within cylinders 81, have attached thereto piston rods 89 to the upper ends of which are attached chucks 90. The chucks are of the well-known type of split socket contracted by tapering threads of the nuts 9|. In the chucks are securely held pointed pins or awls 92. Serving as a guard to prevent damage to the awls, lugs 93 projecting from the arms 58 are provided with an opening 95 through which the awls pass in their upward movement, but the pointed ends are enclosed in the openings when in their down inactive position.

When a tire is in position .and securely engaged by the arms 58, an electric circuit functions to energize the solenoid 95 which depresses the plunger 96 of the 4-way valve 91. This supplies fluid under pressure to the conduit 98 leading to a manifold 99 which is provided with bores |90 and ||l| in each end thereof which are separated by a partition |62. Ports |03 communicating with the bore |00 have connected thereto conduits |94 .extending to the lowerends of the '6 cylinders 81 to supply uid under pressure to raise the pistons 88 and piston rods 89 to drive the awls 92 through the wall of the tire adjacent surfaces engaged by the arms 58, the other side of the cylinder being open to exhaust.

When the awls have reached their full stroke and the tire vented, an electric circuit energizes the solenoid |85 which depresses the plunger 96 in the opposite direction, opening the valve 91 t0 permit fluid to pass through the conduit |06 to the opposite end of the manifold block 99 through the ports |91 and conduits |98 which extend to the upper ends of the cylinders 81, the valve 91 opens the lower ends of the cylinders to exhaust, causing the awls to retract to their inactive position.

The venting units which are three in number are identical in construction and function, and are timed and controlled in the following manner.

The piston rods 88 extending through the bottom of the cylinders 81, have attached thereto switch contact bars |99 and H6 having cam surfaces thereon to operate and control a pair of limit switches' and |2, which are mounted in the extensions 60 extending from the lower end of the arms 58 (see Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8).

When the `arms 58 are fully expanded to securely engage a tire, the venting awls are actuated to pierce the tire by the limit switch 8| which is closed by the switch contact bar 18. This energizes the solenoid which actuates the 4-way valve 91 to admit liuid to the lower end of the cylinders 81, causing the piston rods 89 to drive the awls 92 through the tire wall. The limit switches and ||2 operate as follows. The switches (see Figs. 6 .and 8), the arms of which are in contact with the high surface of the cam bars |89, are held in closed position and the switches ||2 in contact with the high surface of the -carn bar ||0 are in open position. As the piston raises, the switches leave the high surface of the cam bars |09 and open while the switches ||2 remain open until the awls have completed their upward stroke and the contact arms of switches ||2 with their contacts in series leave the high surfaces of the cam bars I0 and close. This completes a circuit to the solenoid |95 which reverses the 4-way valve 91 to retract the awls. When the awls are fully retracted, an electric circuit is set up by the limit switches I| 2 which energize solenoids 56 and 15, which reverses the fluid through the valves 52 and 1|, permitting the arms 58 to retract and the carriage to be lowered. At the same time the solenoid ||3 is energized to reverse the fluid pressure from the lower end of the cylinder 21 to the upper end, forcing the tire stop 35 to drop, passing another tire to the venting mechanism. When vents have been formed in the lower side of a tire, it is released, turned over and passed to unit 2 for venting the opposite side.

When a tire has been released by the arms 58 and the stop 35 has been lowered, the table conveyor is started. The tire having vents in its lower side passes to the lower end of the table conveyor, engaging a stationary bar I4 mounted on the frame 5 of the unit I, said bar having a cross-sectional form of a hexagon or square so mounted that a corner of the bar will engage the sidewall of a tire to retard its forward `movement so that the following tire will engage and push the vented tire. The frictional engagement of the tires and bar prevent the dropping of the tire until the forwarder overhanging side of the tirer is movedbeyond; its center Withzrespect togthegbar Ilfi; ,whereupon the-tire drops. The retarding actonfof ythe bar. causes thegtiretoiiip over-with theeunvented side down.

The tiredrops on thelintermediate inclined conveyor unit 3' which carries the tires from the venting unit I to the ventingfunit 2.A The unit 3 is in the form of an inclined conveyor, .com-.- prising a frame H5, the lower end of which is attached to thefraine 50i unit I, the elevated end beingattached to the frame 5-ofunit2.

Mounted at the lower end of the frameV H5, a pulley I I6V is supported by a shaft II. At the elevated end a shaft IIB supportsa pulley H9 which'is driven by a sprocket I20. mounted on the shaft i I8 which in turn is driven by a chain I2I connected to a sprocket |22 mounted on a shaft |23 of a gear reduction unit EN connected to and driven bythe motor l25.

Apair of spaced apart belts IZB/are supported bythe pulleys IIE and H9 and driven thereby to Ycarry the tires from unit I to unit 2, the belts being supported between pulleys by rollers` 121; Mounted adjacent the lower end of the frame II5 and between thebelts is a series of free revolving rollers H2B mounted in a frame 128e attached to the frame H5. These rollers assist in turning the tires over as'they leave unit I, the rollers being-located so .that the tires drop thereon to permit the4 contacting surface of the tire to roll over the rollers downward or backward so that the unvented underside of the tires maybe exposed to the venting mechanism of unit 2.

Thev inclined transfer conveyorcontrolled by a push button switch I29 runs continuously while the units I and 2 are in operation.

Tires are delivered to the table roller conveyor of unit 2 by the inclined conveyor where they are vented in. the opposite side by. mechanism which is identical with the mechanism cf unit l. When both sides oi tiresare vented they are released from unit 2, requiring.,r no turning. They are guided into a chute I by a baie plate`V ISI, from wherethey are received by a conventional hook conveyor to continue their course in the conveyor system.

Operation The operation of the `apparatus is as follows:

To start the apparatus the start button of switch i29 is depressed. This starts the inclined conveyor between the units I and 2;- This conveyor runs continuously while the apparatus is in operation. The start buttons of switches |32 of each unit are depressed energizing motors il which start the conveyors. The apparatus is now ready to operate.

Since the operation of bothl units I and 2.is identical, only one will be explained.

A- tire isfed to unit I. The tire travels over the conveyor rollers f and 'I and depresses the swinging roller I8, causing the projection 2iv eX- tending from the arm 3G to contact an arm 22 extending from a switch 23. The rnorma-ily closed contact of the switch 23 opens, de-energizing the motor I1 to stop the roller conveyor and deenergizing the solenoid IIS-and at the same time a circuit is-set'up to energize solenoid 2ito raise the tire stop 35.

The normally open vcontact of switch 23.*closes energizing solenoid valve 53 and 24; Solenoid valve 2li -actuates the 4- way valve 25to supply fluid to the lower endv of 'the cylinder 2' through the conduit 2t and opens the upper endnto exhaust through conduitv ISS to raise the stop 35 so that the succeedingtires. willbe. held back while thepreceding tire is zventede Atthesame time solenoid` 53l is. energizedwhich opens-the valve:52to4 admit .luidtoi thelower end of: the cylinder: 381 andopens .the upper end to exhaust, causing; the rack, i I ito :raise the tire holding .and piercing mechanism,..through the actionbf.v the rack lll and pinion-t2;Y

When the rackvhreaches its uppermostposif tion, it contacts the arm of limit switch. I 3i'. Thegnormally closedcontact vof switch I34 opens, de-energizingsolenoids 24 and 53.v However, the Valves 25 and 52 remaininlthe sameposition, holding the .rack andA stop in their upward position.

The normally open contactoswitch llcloses energizing solenoid valve I2 through theinormally open contact of limit switch 32A which is held closed ,since thezjawsarefully retracted. Solenoid l2,operates the.4way valve II tosupply` air to the-lower1r endl of the; fluid. pressure cylinder I0 and opens the upper end to exhaust, causing.v the arms toexpand. Whenv thearrns reach a predetermined diameter, the contact bar 'is rides out of contact with the arm of.: switch 32 and returns to its normal open position, causingv the normally open Contact2 of switch S2 to rie-energize solenoid l2.- I-Iowever; the valve 'II remainsein the same position and the arms continue to expand to grip the bead.of;a tireasl in Fig. 5.

The normally,vv closed Contact ofY limit switch 82 closes, energizing a time delay relay with ,timing action foccurringwhen acoilis energized,V the normally openl time cont-act` of, which energizes thesolenoid Q5 lwhich supplies uidto the lower end of theA cylinders'` 8l and opens the Aupper end to exhaust. This actuates the awls 92. to vent a tire.

This circuit isset up to vent .tires having bead diameters within certainlimits; If a tirepasses through having; a bead diameter greater. than that for which the circuit is set, lirnitt switch 8l leaves the highsurface ofthe contactbar I3 andreturns-to itsznormal position by passing the solenoid 95T and thenormally'closed Contact or limit switch tiicloses, energizing a relay, causing thecycle to continuewithout actuating the awls.

When'the awls haveVV reached their vfull'stroke, the contact bars iiiflzwhich ,.have1been operating the limit switchesI i I .haveri'ridden out of .contact with the switch arm andfreturnto their normally closedvv position. The switches are wired in'seres and energize a relay'which seals itself through a normally closed relay contact, which opens a circuit to solenoidY valves 2Q; 53, 'i2 and Qand a` time delay relay which causes another normally closed contact/to open a circuit to a relay which, when'` de.energized, its normally` closed contact'connects-.solenoids 5t; l5 andv 805 and a time delay'relay, which energizes solenoid M35 to retract the awls.

When the awls are fully retracted; limit switches I I2fwhich are'lalso wired in series and normally held open are closed by the contact bars iid, energizing-solenoid i5 which reverses the iiuidiinthecylinder it?, causing the arms 5t to retract.'v

When the arms are fully retracted, limit switch 83' operates. Its normallyk closed contact is opened by 'the high surface of the contact bar Sii ole-energizing solenoid l'which has operated toretract the arms-*58.

The normallyl open Contact of limitv switch 83 closes,toienergizesolenoid .56; which vreverses Ithe '9 'fluid in cylinder 36 to actuate the rack 4| and pinion 42 to lower the carriage on which the tire holding and venting mechanisms are mounted. When the rack is lowered and the carriage in its lowermost position, the lower end of said rack contacts a limit switch |35 which operates so that its normally closed contact opens, deenergizing solenoid 56 and a time delay relay. The normally open contact of limit switch |35 closes, energizing a relay, the normally open contact of which energizes the motors i6, which starts the roller conveyor and lowers the tire stop 35 by energizing solenoid H3. The cycle is now ready to be repeated.

Wiring diagram Since the operation of both units I and 2 are identical and operate independently of one another, the controlling elements for each unit are the same as illustrated in the wiring diagram of Fig. 9.

The electric current is supplied by the feed lines |36, |31 and |38, which carry 440 Volts for operation of the motors |1 and |25, the lines being provided with the customary fused switches |39.

For the operation of the electric controls, the 440 v. current is transformed to 220 volts by a transformer |46, the 220 volt current being supplied to the controlling elements from the transformer through the feed line |41, then through the return line |42.

To set the apparatus so that controlling elements will function in their sequential order, the switch |29 in line |43 is pressed energizing relay |44 which closes the contact |44a in line |45a. The relay |44 in line |45 closes a circuit through the lines |45 and |46 which leads through the overload switches to line |42, closing the contacts |41, |48 and |49 in lines |56, |51 and |52, respectively, which starts the motor |25 which runs the inclined intermediate conveyor 3. To stop the conveyor, switch |29a is pressed, deenergizing relay |44.

When the relay |44 is energized by closing the switch |29, the contact |53 in line |54 closes, which energizes the relay |55 also in line |54. The relay |55 in turnA closes contact |56 in line |51. When the push button switch |32 in line |58 is closed it energizes time relay |69 in line |61 which in turn closes the contact |62 in line |63 which energizes relay |64 in line S5 through line |66. The relay |64 in turn closes the contact |61 in-line |65 which completes the circuit to line |42, closing the contacts |63, |69, |16 in lines |1|, |12 and |13, respectively, to motor l1 which starts the rollers on the table conveyor to convey a tire into position to be vented.

The motor l1 for conveyor unit No. 2 is started in the same manner by identical controls when the push switch |32 of No. 2 unit is closed, causing the contacts |14, and |16 in lines |11, |18 and |19 to close, energizing the motor l1 which drives the conveyor of unit 2.

The rst half or venting cycle of either unit is operated by the controls as follows.

A tire travels over the table conveyor to a position above the venting mechanism when it depresses the pivotally mounted roller I9 which is supported by arms i9. An extension 2| on arm 39 contacts the arm of a limit switch 23 in line |65 leading from the feed line 14| mally closed contact of limit switch 23 opens, de-energizing relay |64 and solenoid 53. This The norstops the conveyor and sets up the current so that solenoid 24 is energized.

The normally open contact of limit switch 23 closes, directing current through the line |86 to normally closed switch ,|34 through lines lI, |82 and |93 to solenoid 24 which operates a 4-Way valve 25 to direct fluid to the lower end of cylinder '21 to raise the stop 35. At the same time, current is directed through line |61 to solenoid 53 actuating a Ll-way valve to direct fluid to the lower end of cylinder 38 to raise the carriage which supports the tire holding and piercing mechanism.

When the carriage is raised, the upper end of the rack 4| contacts the normally closed switch |34 which breaks the circuit in line |8|, deenergizing solenoids 24 and 53. This leaves the tire stop 35 and the carriage in their upper position.

The normally open contact of limit switch |34 closes, directing current through the line 54 to limit switch 82 which is held closed since the arms 58 are held at their minimum diameter in contracted position.

The normally open contact of limit switch |34 operated by the rack closes, through the line |65 and through the normally open contact of limit switch 82 in line |85, energizing solenoid 12 which actuates the 4-way valve 1| to direct fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 16 to expand the arms 56. The limit switch 52 is operated by a cam or contact bar 19 attached to the lower end of piston rod 68. When the contact bar rides out of contact with the arm of switch B2, the arms are in their expanded position to hold a tire while being pierced and the switch 82 returns to its normal closed position, de-energizing solenoid 12. When the arms are fully eX- panded, cam bar 118 is in contact with limit switch 8| and closes its normally open contact. The normally closed contact of switch 32 directs current through line |86 through limit switch 8l with its normally open contact held closed by the cam bar 18 and to time delay relay 88 with timing action occurring when its coil is energized. The normally open time contact of time delay relay |88 is used to energize solenoid 95 by closing the contact |89 in line |99. The solenoid 95 actuates the Valve 91 to supply iluid to the lower end of the cylinders 81 which actuate the awls to pierce the tire.

If a tire has a bead diameter greater than that for which the machine is set, the arms expand until they reach the limit for which they were set. The switch 6| then rides 01T the cam bar 18 and returns to its normally closed position bypassing solenoid 95, the normally closed contact of switch 8| energizing relay |9| in line |92. The cycle continues without actuating the awls.

When tires of the correct bead diameter pass through, the time relay |38 times in its normally open time contact |89 which closes energizing solenoid which actuates a 4-way valve which applies fluid to the lower end of the cylinders 81 operating the awls to pierce the tire, forming the desired vents therein.

The second or return cycle is controlled as follows:

When the awls have reached full stroke, the contact or cam bars |09 ride out of contact with the arms of switches The switches return to their normal closed position. These switches are normally closed with their contacts wired in series which energize time relay |9| which seals itself in through a normally closed contact |93 11 in line |92 by closing'the normally open-contact |94. Relay |9| also'closes the normally open contact |95 in line |96'and opens'the normally closed contact |91 in line |98 which cuts o the circuit operating lthe controls for the iirst or venting cycle.

This sets up the circuitl so thatV the circuit is open to deenergize solenoids 53, 24, l2, 95 and time relay |89. Another normally closed contact of |9| opens contact'29i in line |99`which opens 'the circuit to relay 299 in line 29| which, when de-energized, its normally closed'contact connects solenoids |95 in line |96, 15 in line 294, 56 in line I5? and time delay relay |69 in line |6| to return line |42 by closing the contact 295 in line 296.

'A normally open contact |95 of relay'l9 in line |96 closes energizing solenoid |95 which reverses the id pressure in the awl cylinders'l. When the awls contractthe contact bars ||9 which operate switches I I2, the raised portion yof said bars ride into contact with the normally open switch arms closingV the switches ||2 inline 294, energizing solenoid '|5 which' reverses the iluid pressure in cylinder '59' which contracts the arms.

When the arms are fully contracted, limit switch 83 is operated by the cam bar 99 which opens the normally closed contact of limit switch 83 in line 294, de-energizing solenoid 15. The normally open contact of`limit switch 153 closes by riding out of contact with bar-39. The-contact |56 is closed-by relay |55 energizingsolenoid456 and time delay relay I 59. Solenoid 55 reverses the fluid `pressure incylinder 38, causing the carriage to be lowered through rthe'action of the rack and 'pinion operated by the fluid pressure cylinder 38.

When the 'rack reaches its down position, the lower end thereof contacts limit switch |35 in line |51 to open-its normally closed contact, de-energizing solenoid 56 and timedelay relay f |59.

The normally open contact of limitswitch |35 closes, energizing relay |64 through time'delay relay |69 and the normally openA time relay contact |62 of relay |69 starting the motorv by Vthe delayed closing of the time delay contact |62 in line |63, completing the circuit through'line |56 to the relay |54, starting the conveyor, at the same time energizing solenoid ||3 inline 299 which reverses the uid pressure in the cylinder 21 to lower the tire stop. Thetire stopislowered by the circuit energized-by the relay |55 which closes the contact |56 in liney |51'to lines 298y and 299. This energizes solenoid-H3 lwhich reverses the iiuid pressure in the cylinder F27, causing the tire stop 35 to be lowered.

The normally open contact IMU/in line2|4`of relay |64 in line |65 closesl energizing-fthe relay 299 inline 29| which'then seals itself through contact 2|9 of relay 299 vand normally-.closed contact 291 inline`29l opening the contact-.295 in line 296 so that there-will'be no interference from the second cycle'when theiirst cycle is `in progress. The iirstcycle is now readyV torepeat.

A time delay relay is provided to 'delay-the unit when the take-away conveyor is fullfand can receive no more tires. The limit switchfl ll in line 2 |2 is operated to energize the time' delay relay 2|3 which times out its normally closed time contact,V de-energizing relay`r |55 in line- |54. The normally open contact of relay |55 'opens the circuit by opening thecontact`|55 kin line |5l-which opens the circuit to solenoids 56 and ||3 and time delay-relay |69 so that'the cycle i2 in progress proceeds to this point and stops until the take-'away conveyor iscleared.

From the foregoing'itfwill be recognized that the variousobjects of my invention have been achieved by the provision of an apparatus controlled automatically, to vent the'sides of tire casings adjacent their bead portions to relieve air that becomes trapped between the inner walls ofthe casings and the inner tube to prevent air from finding its waybetween the variousplies of fabric of which the tires are constructed. The trapped air is thus'permitted to' escape, preventing ply separation and premature destruction of tire casings in the form ofrblowouts.

That the apparatus efficiently eliminates an undesirable fati-guing operation heretofore performed by hand, is apparent.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown-.for the purpose of illustrating theinvention, it will be apparent to those .skilled inthis art that variousvchanges and modications may be made therein without departing from the spiritor scope-,of the invention.

.'I claim:

'V1..Apparatus for venting automobile tire casings and the like, embodying means for receiving a tirevcasing, means for positioning and engaging Aa tire casing, means associated with said positioning and engaging-means'to pierce vents in the side of a tire casingfmeans for'releasing the casing when pierced, means vfor reversing a tire casing upside down onto a vconveyorfrneans to carry said tire-.casing-to aseCQndapparatus embodying means corresponding to the aboverecitedmeans to pierce vents inthe oppositeside of a'tirelcasingand means associated VVwith the second=l apparatus todischarge said tire casing.

2. An apparatus for'piercing the sidewalls'of tire casings to provide a pluralityof ventsin each 4side thereof, embodying afrst unit to receive and position a tire casing, means for engaging and holding 1a tirecasing, means `associated with said engaging and holding means to pierce one side of a tire casing, ymeans to reverse a casing upside down,` means for conveying said tire casings to a second unit to pierce vents into theopposite side of a vcasing and means associated with said second unitvto discharge a tire.

3. In an apparatus for piercing air vents in the walls of the outer casing of pneumatic ytires,'em bodying a first unit to-pierce a plurality of 'vents in one'side of a tire casing; a second unit to pierce vents in the opposite side of a casing; and an intermediate conveyor unit'to carry said tire casings from saidfirstunit to said second unit, said I'lrstand second `units embodying means for receivingand positioning a tire casing, means for engaging and holding a casing, awl lmeans for piercing a plurality of vents in the walls of a tire casing, means associated with said first unit to reverse the tire casing upside down and means associated with said second unit to receive the casing 'whenfboth sides have been vented.

4. In an apparatus for piercing the sidewalls of tire casings to-provide` air vents in the sidewalls thereof to permit trapped air to escape therethrough, embodying a first unit for receiving a tire casing, means for centering and engaging a casing to hold same while being vented, means associated with said centering and engaging means to pierce one side'of a tire casing, means for releasing and reversing -a casing upside down, conveyor means for receiving and 13 delivering 'the 'tire casing to said second unit embodying like means to pierce the opposite side of the tire casing, and means associated with said second unit to release and discharge the casing.

5. In an apparatus for piercing the sidewalls of pneumatic tire casings to provide vents therein to permit the escape of trapped air therefrom when a tire containing an inner tube is mounted on a rim and inflated, embodying a rst unit for piercing one side of a casing; a second unit for piercing the opposite side; and an intermediate conveyor unit to carry casings from said rst unit to said second unit, the first and second units embodying a roller conveyor to receive and position the tire casings, motor means for driving said roller conveyor, a pivotally mounted roller means actuated when engaged by a casing to stop said roller conveyor when a casing is in position, fluid pressure operated arms for centering and engaging a tire casing, fluid pressure actuated awls associated with said arms to pierce the casing, means associated with the rst unit to reverse said tire casings upside down onto said intermediate conveyor unit which embodies a pair of spaced apart belts, motor means for driving said belts and means comprising a series of rollers disposed between said belts to aid in 4presenting the reverse side of a tire casing to the venting awls of said second unit.

6. In an apparatus for piercing the sidewalls of pneumatic tire casings and the like to provide vents therein to permit the escape of air trapped between the inner wall of the casing and the inner tube when mounted on a rim and inilated,

embodying a first unit for receiving and venting one side of a casing; a second unit for venting the opposite side of a casing and discharging same; and an intermediate conveyor unit for carrying casings from said first unit to said second unit, said rst and second units embodying a roller table conveyor, motor means for intermittently driving said conveyor, a pivoted roller means actuated when engaged and depressed by a tire casing to stop said conveyor when a casing is in position to be vented, a fluid pressure actuated stop to hold back succeeding tires when a casing is in venting position, fluid pressure actuated arms to engage the bead of the casing to hold said casing while being vented, fluid pressure actuated awls associated with said arms to pierce the vents in the casing, and a carriage means to position said bead engaging and piercing means.

7. Apparatus for piercing the sidewall portions of an automobile tire casing comprising at least one unit embodying a piercing means, means for supporting and holding the casing to be pierced with one of its sidewall portions exposed to the piercing means and means for turning the tire casing over to expose the opposite sidewall portion of the casing to the piercing means.

8. Apparatus for piercing the sidewall portions of an automobile tire casing, comprising a pair of units disposed in succeeding relation, each of said units comprising means for piercing one of the sidewall portions of the tire casing and means for supporting and holding the casing with a sidewall portion thereof exposed to the piercing means and disposed between the piercing units, means for turning the casing over to expose the opposite sidewall portion to the piercing means of the succeeding unit and means for transporting the casing thereto.

9. An apparatus for piercing the sidewall portions of an automobile tire casing to form vents therein to permit trapped air between the inner walls of the tire casing and the inner tube to escape when mounted on a rim and inflated, embodying a pair of piercing units disposed in succeeding relationship, each of said units cornprising conveyor means for receiving and supporting a tire casing, means on said conveyor to stop same when a tire casing is in position to be vented, means associated with said conveyor means to stop and hold back succeeding tire casings, arm means pivotally mounted in pedestals for engaging the bead portion of a tire casing, means for expanding and contracting said arm means, venting means carried by said arm means, a carriage means for moving said casing engaging and venting means into and out of position and means for actuating said carriage.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the conveyor means comprises a frame, idler rollers disposed at the ends of said frame, intermediate rollers supported substantially centrally on said frame, auxiliary rollers positioned beneath said centrally disposed rollers and interpolated therewith, a pair of belts adjacent the ends of said rollers and positioned between the interpolated rollers and said intermediate rollers and pulley means for driving said belts.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the conveyor stop means comprises pivotally mounted arms, a roller mounted on said arms, said roller being normally disposed in a higher plane than the adjacent rollers, an arm having a projection extending therefrom, said projection contacting an arm of a limit switch when a tire casing depresses said roller which opens an electric circuit to a motor to stop the conveyor.

12. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the tire stop comprises an arm, a bar attached to said arm, a piston rod attached to said arm, a double acting piston within a fluid pressure cylinder to actuate said piston and a solenoid operated valve to actuate said cylinder.

13. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which said arm means embodies a plurality of arms, gripping surfaces formed on said arms, and expanding means for expanding said arms radially.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which the expanding means embodies a piston rod, a spider block mounted on said piston rod, links connecting said spider block with the arms and means for actuating said piston rod.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 in which the piston actuating means comprises a fluid pressure cylinder, a double acting piston Within said cylinder, said piston fixed to said piston rod and a solenoid valve to actuate said iluid pressure cylinder.

16. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the piercing means carried by said arms embodies a plurality of fluid pressure cylinders, solenoid actuated valves for actuating said fluid pressure cylinders, double acting pistons within said cylinder, piston rods extending from said cylinders actuated by said pistons, chucks xed to the ends of said piston rods, and awls secured in said chucks to pierce vents in the tire casings.

17. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the carriage means comprises a shaft, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said shaft, a plate disposed on said arms, pedestals mounted on said plate to support the tire engaging arms and means to actuate said carriage.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 in which the carriage actuating means comprises a shaft: crank arms'mounte'd on said shaft, arms pivotal'ly connected rto said crank arms, said arms extending toand connected to the carriage, a pinionv gear mounted on said shaft, a rack in engagement with` said pinion gear and uid pressure'means to actuate-said rack.

19.15.11 apparatus'accordingto claim 18 in which the 'uid pressure means comprises av fluid pressure cylinder, -a double acting piston within said cylinder, a piston rod `fixed to saidpiston, said piston extending tosaid rack and fixed thereto and solenoid operated valve to actuate said piston -Within the cylinder.

20. Anapparatus for piercing the sidewalls of tire casings forr providing vents in each-side'thereof embodying arstunit and a succeeding unit, each (of. said -units comprisingmeans` forreceiving and positioning ya tire, means for` temporarily halting Ythe .receiving and positioning VVmeans Whena tire is positioned; means for holding loack succeeding tires, means for engaging'thebead portion of a positionedf'tiregmeans on the bead engaging means for piercing the sidewall Aof a tire to form vents therein and 'control means electrically energizable for 'actuating the several aforesaid means according'to a predetermined cycle of operations.

HAROLD H.V CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

